Enabling Load Balancing in a Network Virtualization Overlay Architecture

Abstract

A load balancing function is integrated into a Network Virtualization Edge, NVE, function. This load balancing function is configured by a Network Virtualization Authority, NVA, using a new protocol. The can thus enable or disable the LB function for a given VN in a specific NVE. According to one example method, the NVA receives ( 210 ) Virtual Machine, VM, configuration information from a VM orchestration system. Based on this information, the NVA configures ( 220 ) an attached NVE to enable load balancing by sending an enable message to the NVE. The NVA subsequently receives ( 230 ) a confirmation message from the NVE, indicating that the load balancing function is enabled. The NVA then updates ( 240 ) remote NVEs, allowing load balancing traffic to be sent to the first NVE.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method in an Network Virtualization Authority, NVA, node that provides reachability and forwarding information to one or more Network Virtualization Edge, NVE, nodes in a network employing a Network Virtualization Overlay, NVO, wherein each NVE node implements Layer 2 and/or Layer 3 network virtualization functions for one or more tenant system elements, the method comprising:
 receiving virtual machine, VM, configuration information for one or more VMs;   configuring at least a first NVE to enable load balancing, LB, by sending a LB enable message to the first NVE node; and   updating configuration information for one or more remote NVEs to allow load balancing traffic for the one or more VMs to be sent to the first NVE node.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises receiving confirmation, from the first NVE node, that a load balancing function is enabled. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining that LB should be disabled in the first NVE node;   sending a LB disable message to the first NVE node; and   updating configuration information for one or more remote NVEs to prevent load balancing traffic for the one or more VMs from being sent to the first NVE node.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the method further comprises receiving confirmation, from the first NVE node, that the load balancing function has been disabled. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the method further comprises:
 configuring second NVE node to enable load balancing, LB, by sending a LB enable message to the second NVE node; and   updating configuration information for one or more remote NVEs to allow load balancing traffic for the one or more VMs to be sent to the second NVE node.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the method further comprises receiving confirmation, from the second NVE node, that a load balancing function is enabled. 
     
     
         7 . A method in a Network Virtualization Edge, NVE, node in a network employing a Network Virtualization Overlay, NVO, where the NVE node implements Layer 2 and/or Layer 3 network virtualization functions for one or more tenant system elements, the method comprising:
 receiving a load balancing, LB, enable message from a Network Virtualization Authority, NVA, node that provides reachability and forwarding information to the NVE node;   enabling a load balancing function, in response to the LB enable message; and   forwarding subsequent load balancing traffic to one or more virtual machines, VMs, using the enabled load balancing function.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising sending a confirmation message to the NVA node, in response to receiving the LB enable message. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 receiving a load balancing, LB, disable message from the NVA node; and   disabling the load balancing function, in response to the LB disable message.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the method further comprises sending confirmation, to the NVA node, that the load balancing function has been disabled. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein forwarding the subsequent load balancing traffic to one or more VMs comprises:
 retrieving an LB address from each of one or more incoming packets;   determining a virtual network context for each of the one or more incoming packets, using the LB address;   obtaining a VM MAC address for each of the one or more incoming packets, based on a load balancing algorithm and the virtual network context; and   forwarding the one or more incoming packets according to the obtained VM MAC addresses.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the NVE node supports Layer 3 service and wherein the LB address retrieved from each of the one or more incoming packets is an IP destination address. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the NVE node supports Layer 2 service and wherein the LB address retrieved from each of the one or more incoming packets is a MAC destination address. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A Network Virtualization Authority, NVA, node adapted to provide reachability and forwarding information to one or more Network Virtualization Edge, NVE nodes in a network employing a Network Virtualization Overlay, NVO, wherein each NVE node implements Layer 2 and/or Layer 3 network virtualization functions for one or more tenant system elements, the NVA node comprising a network interface circuit and further comprising a processing circuit adapted to:
 receive virtual machine, VM, configuration information for one or more VMs, via the network interface circuit;   configure at least a first NVE to enable load balancing, LB, by sending a LB enable message to the first NVE node via the network interface circuit; and   update configuration information for one or more remote NVEs to allow load balancing traffic for the one or more VMs to be sent to the first NVE node.   
     
     
         20 . The NVA node of  claim 19 , wherein the processing circuit is adapted to carry out the method of any of  claims 2 - 6 . 
     
     
         21 . A Network Virtualization Edge, NVE, node adapted for use in a network employing a Network Virtualization Overlay, NVO, and further adapted to implement Layer 2 and/or Layer 3 network virtualization functions for one or more tenant system elements, the NVE node comprising a network interface circuit and further comprising a processing circuit adapted to:
 receive, via the network interface circuit, a load balancing LB enable message from a Network Virtualization Authority, NVA, node that provides reachability and forwarding information to the NVE node;   enable a load balancing function, in response to the LB enable message; and   forward subsequent load balancing traffic to one or more virtual machines, VMs, using the enabled load balancing function.   
     
     
         22 . The NVE node of  claim 21 , wherein the processing circuit is adapted to carry out the method of any of  claims 8 - 13  and  claims 29 - 33 . 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the LB enable message comprises a Virtual Network (VN) identifier for a VN to which the load balancing traffic belongs. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the LB enable message comprises one or more QoS requirements, one or more security policies, or one or more of both. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the LB enable message comprises an LB address to be used as a destination address for any incoming traffic to which load balancing shall be applied. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the LB enable message comprises one or more addresses for VMs to which load balancing traffic should be forwarded. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the LB enable message identifies a load balancing algorithm to be applied to load balancing traffic.